Automatic lubricator.



No. 768,958. PATENTED AUG. 30, 1 904 J. SNOWDON.

AUTOMATIC LUBRICATOR.

APP LIUATION FILED 8EPT.' 14, 1903.

NO MODEL.

II Q "Q Fatented August 30, 1904.

"ATENT @r-rrca.

JOHN SNOWVDON, OF MILLWALL, ENGLAND.

AUTO IVIATICv LUBRICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 768,958, dated August30, 1904.

Application filed September 14, 1903- Serial No. 173,176. (N0 model-Jand is applicable for use where the piston is operated by a high-speedmotor.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are elevatlons at rightangles to one another, and Fig. 8 is a plan of a lubricator con structedaccording to the present invention. Fig. A is a section on line 4 4 ofFig. 2; and Fig. 5 is a part section, drawn to an enlarged scale, online 5 5 of Fig. 1.

A cylinder a, of brass or other suitable material, is closed at one endwhere it has a flange Z and at the other end by a cap 0, screwed on thecylinder. This cylinder is provided with a piston 7, the screw-threadedpiston-rod f of which extends upward into a tube (Z, secured to the topof the cylinder a by the cap 0. The lower end of the tube (Z, which isscrew-threaded internally, is provided with a collar (Z, which fits intoa corresponding shoulder inside the cap 0. The collar (Z is held withfreedom up against this shoulder by a washer c, which is fixed to thecap by setscrews 0 and is provided with a projection e on its internalperiphery. The projection normally engages in a groove f in thescrewthreaded rod f, which carries at its lower end the piston f hen thetube (Z is rotated in the journal formed by the shoulder in the capmounted by a knob g. The upper end of the tube (Z is closed by a cap (Zscrewed thereon.

At the bottom of the cylinder are provided one or more orifices a, towhich may be conveniently attached pipes leading to the various surfacesto be lubricated. Cast in one with or otherwise attached to the cylinderare two or more lugs (Z2, provided with holes by which the lubricatormay be fixed to a supportingbracket. A convenient arrangement is to havetwo pairs or lugs so disposed that the lubricator can be fixed in eitherof two po sitions at right angles to each other. The lubricator may alsobe fixed to a base by screws through'the flange Z2.

Fixed to the tube (Z by set-screws is a wormwheel it, gearing with aworm Z, the shaft of which is journaled in the upper ends of two arms Z:7c, the lower ends of which are fixed to a rocking shaft Z3. Thisrocking shaft is journaled in a bracket Z, which is cast in one piecewith or otherwise fixed to the cylinder a and which also carries an armZ, in which is journaled one end of the spindle of the driving-wh eel p.The end of a screw m, which works in asnug Z on the arm Z, can be madeto abut on one of the arms k, and thus hold the worm 2' in engagementwith its wheelh. By unscrewing on the frame carrying the worm Z can berocked outward, so as to disengage the latter from its wheel, as shownin Fig. A. Fixed to the shaft of the worm 'Z is another worm-wheel w,gearing with worm 0 on the spindle p of the driving-wheel p. A secondbearing for the driving-shaft p is provided in another bracket q, caston the cylinder. Near the upper end of the cylinder is provided aninternally-threaded orifice '1" for the attachment of a pipe throughwhich lubricant may be forced into the cylinder when it requiresreplenishing. Screw-plugs are provided for the purpose of closing any ofthe orifices c r when not in use. The wheel p is driven by a belt fromany suitable rotating part of the machinery to which the lubricator isattached or by any other means Which may be convenient and drives,through worm-gearing 0 n and Zt and the screw-threaded tube (Z, thescrew-threaded rod f, to which the piston is attached, and thusmaintains the pressure required to force the lubricant to the varioussurfaces.

When the cylinder is exhausted of lubricating material, the piston f hasthen reached such a position that the thread ofthe rod f, which does notextend to the end of the latter, is clear ofthe thread of the tube (Z,and further motion of the piston is impossible. The quantity oflubricant in the cylinder is indicated by the position of the knob Whenit is desired to recharge the cylinder, the worm 17 is lirst thrown outof gear With its wheel. Then by pulling the knob 9 upward to raise therod f and turning the tube (1 in the reverse direction to that in whichit is driven by the feeding mechanism the screwthread of the rod f isbrought into engagement with the thread. of the tube (Z, so that bycontinuing the reverse rotation of the latter the piston may be quicklyraised to its upper limit, at which it is clear of the orifice w, asmall hole a in the cap 0 allowing the air to escape, and the lubricantmay then be forced into the cylinder.

Having thus described the nature of this invention and the best meansIknow of carrying the same into practical effect, I clairn- 1. Anautomatic lubricator comprising a reservoir adapted to contain alubricant and provided with an outlet, a piston operating in thereservoir and provided with a piston-rod having a portion of its lengthscrew-threaded, an internally-screw-threaded tube gearing with said rodfor operating it, said rod adapted to be automatically disconnected fromsaid tube when the lubricant has been exhausted from the reservoir,means for elevating said rod so as to cause the screw-threads thereof toengage with the screw-threads of the tube, a worm-wheel fixed to saidtube and adapted when operated to rotate the tube causing thereby theoperation of said piston until the lubricant is exhausted, a bracketconnected with the reservoir, a rock-shaft journaled in the bracket, apair of arms carried by said rockshaft, a worm-shaft journaled in saidarms and engaging and operating said wormwheel, a worm-wheel carried bysaid wormshaft for operating it, a worm-shaft operated by a prime moverand engaging with and operating the Worm-wheel on the first-mention edworm-shaft, and supporting means for said worm-shaft operated by theprime mover.

2. An automatic lubricator comprising a reservoir adapted to contain alubricant and provided With an outlet, a piston operating in thereservoir and provided with a piston'rod having a portion of its lengthscrew-threaded, an internally-screw-tl'ireaded tube gearing with saidrod for operating it, said rod adapted to be automatically disconnectedfrom said tube when the lubricant has been exhausted from the reservoir,means for elevating said rod so as to cause the screw-threads thereof toengage with the screw-threads of the tube, a worm-wheel fixed to saidtube and adapted when operated to rotate the tube causing thereby theoperation of said piston until the lubricant is exhausted, a bracketconnected with the reservoir, a rock-shaft journaled in the bracket, apair of arms carried by the said rock-shaft, a Worm-shaft journaled insaid arms and engaging and operating said wormwheel, a Wormwheel carriedby said wormshaft for operating it, a worrn-shaft operated by a primemover and engaging with and operating the worm-wheel on thefirst-mentioned worm-shaft, an extension carried by said bracket, and anarm carried by the reservoir, said extension and said last-mentioned armforming a supporting means for the wormshaft operated by the primemover.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN SNOW DON.

l/Vitnesses:

WALTER J SKERTEN, EDWARD GARDNER.

